Flywheel, internal combustion engine with flywheel and system comprising an internal combustion engine and a machine driven thereby

Abstract

In a flywheel for mounting as a coupling element between an internal combustion engine and a machine to be driven thereby, including a flywheel flange for connecting the flywheel to the machine and a driver flange for connecting the flywheel to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, coupling structures are provided between the flywheel flange and the driver flange which coupling structures include insulating connecting areas which electrically insulate the flanges from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flywheel ( 10 ) for mounting as a coupling element between an internal combustion engine ( 110 ) and a driven machine ( 120 ), said flywheel comprising:
 a flywheel flange ( 1 ) for connecting the flywheel to the machine to be driven, 
 a driver flange ( 2 ) for connecting the flywheel ( 10 ) to the internal combustion engine, and 
 coupling means ( 31 ) including connecting bolts ( 21 ) for coupling the flywheel flange ( 1 ) and the driver flange ( 2 ), the connecting bolts ( 21 ) being threaded into the driver flange ( 2 ) and provided with separate electrical insulating members ( 24 ) disposed between respective bolt head engagement surfaces of the connecting bolts ( 21 ) and the flywheel flange ( 1 ), the bolts ( 21 ) extending through openings in the flywheel flange ( 1 ) with insulating gaps ( 28 ) maintained between the walls of openings in the flywheel flange ( 1 ) and the connecting bolts ( 21 ), for electrically insulating the flywheel flange ( 1 ) with respect to the driver flange ( 2 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the flywheel flange ( 1 ) and the driver flange ( 2 ) are joined by the connecting bolts ( 21 ) via a number of engagement surface areas. 
     
     
       3. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the engagement surface areas have engagement surfaces between at least one of the pairs consisting of the flywheel flange ( 1 ) and the driver flange ( 2 ), and the connecting bolts ( 21 ) and the driver flange ( 2 ). 
     
     
       4. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein insulating material layers are provided between at least one of the engagement surfaces and are disposed between one of the group consisting of: a support surface between the driver flange ( 2 ) and the flywheel flange ( 1 ), a centering collar surface ( 4 ) of the driver flange ( 2 ) and a support surface ( 5 ) of the flywheel flange at a centering shoulder ( 6 ), a surface of at least one of the driver flange ( 2 ) and the flywheel flange ( 1 ) in contact with the connecting bolts ( 21 ) and a surface of the passage through which the connecting bolts ( 21 ) extend. 
     
     
       5. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein insulating material layers are formed on the engagement surfaces between the driver flange ( 2 ) and the flywheel flange ( 1 ). 
     
     
       6. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the insulating material layers consist of aluminum oxide deposited on the respective engagement surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein an epoxy resin layer is deposited on the insulating aluminum oxide layer. 
     
     
       8. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the separate insulating member ( 24 ) is a washer coated with an aluminum oxide layer. 
     
     
       9. The flywheel ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaps ( 28 ) between the surface of the flywheel flange ( 1 ) and the connecting bolts ( 21 ) are sealed by sealing means ( 29 ).